Beckham stung by 2018 snub

Zurich - England football icon David Beckham expressed his disappointment on Thursday after his country's bid for the 2018 World Cup ended in a crushing defeat.

England missed out on the 2018 tournament as FIFA members voted to take the tournament to Russia for the first time, a devastating snub to the English who had lobbied relentlessly for the tournament.

Adding insult to injury, Mayor of London Boris Johnson revealed England may also have been eliminated in the first round of voting, winning fewer votes than rank outsiders Belgium-Holland.

"I think the bid team have done everything possible, we couldn't have got a better bid," Beckham told BBC radio.

"We're disappointed but we wish Qatar (chosen to host the 2022 World Cup) and Russia the very best, they're two great countries and I'm sure they'll make FIFA very proud.

"It's obviously hard to not come away with the World Cup in 2018, but a lot of congratulations have to go to the team, a lot of hard work has been done."

"It would be great to bring the World Cup to our country because we've not had it for so many years, but it's a process I've enjoyed."

Former England captain Alan Shearer, also in Zurich to network, said the defeat was "hard to swallow."

"The way the presentation went this morning, the guys that got up and spoke were absolutely magnificent. We couldn't have done any more," Shearer told the BBC. "If you try your best and it hasn't been, at least you can sleep at night.

"I was hoping that I might see a World Cup in my lifetime in England," Shearer said. "It's unfortunate, it's sad, it hurts but you have to congratulate the winners.

"It does make you wonder if we haven't won it this time, whenever will we get it?"

London Mayor Johnson meanwhile said it was possible that British media reports exposing corruption within FIFA ranks had hurt the English bid.

"Clearly, with all the hoo-ha, the 2018 bid team felt that it had damaged our chances," said Johnson, revealing England may even have been humiliatingly eliminated in the first round of voting.

"My information that is unconfirmed, is that we did not progress beyond the first round," Johnson said. "Clearly it is bitterly disappointing for England.

"I really thought we would organise an absolutely fantastic World Cup."

AFP

Comments

Semjaja - 2010-12-02 19:19

lol

Hux - 2010-12-02 19:24

What stupid people the English are. Don't they know that FIFA runs on bribes....!

Mpuma Fred - 2010-12-02 19:48

all together - ag shame. Bribes or no bribes. There are many nations out there that deserve it more thatn ENgland. HAving a couple of pnced up celebrities running around and saying why they should get the WOrld CUp is not enough.

Mike - 2010-12-02 20:17

No it's not, but having a multitude (sorry is that too big a word for you?) I mean a lot of world class stadiums, a well developed tourist industry, many excellent airports and a football mad population should have been more than Russia had to offer.

Ammie - 2010-12-02 21:02

Agree- Remind me a lot of some stupids in SA who really really beleive in their hearts they "deserve" anything. Poms the same - their airports are NOT that great, they have hooligans for fans and are a security risk cause of their arrogant stance towards other countries.

Zukisani - 2010-12-02 21:19

shame mike are u ok? multitude or no multitude , you can impress us with your vocab , but the fact remains England will not be hosting the world cup. let me just brief you a bit Tunisia and egypt had better infrastructures than south Africa and they also had a population that was mad about football more than south Africa, south Africa won the rights to host the world cup, look at what happened, so your Heathrow airport will not be busy come 2018 June-July * laughing*

Woseck - 2010-12-02 23:48

Mike, have you ever been to Russia? It seems like you really don't have a clue what you are talking about. It's a really beautiful and historic place my friend! I would also not prefer to have the tournament in England because there is too many South Africans there hiding away. If I would go to the SWC Russia will be the place.
Please get over your multitude EGO (sorry, I don't think what EGO means)!!!

Andrez - 2010-12-03 07:46

@Mike, and while they were lobbying, hooliganism stuck its head out in a game AGAIN, plus the fact that the POMES tried to rubbish FIFA offcials ...... I rest my case.

Zukisani - 2010-12-02 21:10

u know we can learn a lot from football , if u go around spitting on everyone's face and being arrogant,life will hit u so hard u will go from big to nothing in seconds, England and Australia they wont be hosting a world cup anytime soon. lmao! lmao! 2010 world cup plan B hosts my ass, they don't even qualify too host their own world cup. why is that when England loses everyone cries foul? honestly as a south African i'm happy! very very happy. this is my highlight of the year it beats the hosting of the world cup

Kgake - 2010-12-02 21:10

Serves the Brits right,bravo to the Reds...

Nasman - 2010-12-02 21:39

Well done to Russia and Qatar, you deserve it, i understand you made an emotional plea to the committee. To the English, you must get this World Cup after 100 years. You are just a bunch of sore losers. I understand there were match violence yesterday as well during one of the games. You don't deserve host any World Cup. To Mr Cameron, maybe a Media Tribunal can assist in getting the World Cup.

Peter - 2010-12-02 22:20

Lol Russia has to build stadiums and invest money where as England had stadiums ready and could probably host it tomorrow if they had to. Guess Fifa punished British media for finding corruption in Fifa.

John Seloa - 2010-12-03 08:56

Dream on and you can bitch as much as you want. England paid the price of their arrogance and the thinking that they are superior when in fact, they are the US stoogies. Anyway, they will be plan B for 2018, whilst Australia will be plan B for 2022. lol!!!

diranp - 2010-12-03 07:54

Fifa would of made more money having the world cup in England,all stadiums would of been packed to capacity. I blame the English press!!!
But having the world cup in Russia will be something new and exciting....

diranp - 2010-12-03 07:57

England only managed to earn two votes and one of them came from a Brit,sound fishy to me..............

sahil1287 - 2010-12-03 08:01

Once England can get their unruly supporters under control, then only will they be considered for a WC again. Case in point, there were lists, LISTS, of these guys that we had to keep out of the country (from other nations as well, longest list though is from England). Now imagine a country full of them.........nevermind the terrorist threats etc....it's the fans there that FIFA were worried about

John Seloa - 2010-12-03 08:54

AUSTRALIA WILL BE PLAN B FOR 2022. LOL!!!!!

Gorilla - 2010-12-03 08:56

I think the decisions to host the SWC games in Russia and Qatar are shocking. Particularly Qatar. FIFA, I am beginning to suspect have people in the stadium building industry. Gangsters.

John Seloa - 2010-12-03 09:22

Shocking as was the decision to award the 2010 SWC to SA. Give Russia and Qatar a chance and they will surprise you just as SA did. You thick skulled supremecist.

Zee - 2010-12-03 12:52

What is shocking about it? The U.S. and England have both hosted it before, why not give other nations a chance and expand the game to regions where traditionally it has suffered? This is a vote, are you just blindly loyal to the U.S. and Eng? 2 perfectly capable countries have been chosen, neither has hosted it before, whats the problem? You people make no sense... SA hosting the WC was a shining example of how you doubters can be shut up.

mxolisintombela99 - 2010-12-03 09:22

These British blokes think the world revolves around them, and instead of talking about Russia winning the bid, which is what we were glue to oure screens about, yesterday all night and this morning, they kept on discussing about England loosing the bid, as if the world owes them something. they should just get a life. Russia won it and the best they (the English) could do is applaud Russia for winning the bid.

Zolani - 2010-12-03 09:22

England would never have got it, FIFA is out to promote soccer all over the world, Why give the Tournment to a country where soccer is already Popular makes no sense.

johnp - 2010-12-03 10:08

Boy, now's the time to sell those "Fick Fufa" T-shirts in England!

johnp - 2010-12-03 10:09

Boy, if ever there was a time to sell those "Fick FUFA" t-shirts in England........!

Billy - 2010-12-03 12:48

I think FIFA has made the right decision by awarding Russia and Qatar the opportunity to host the world cup. This is a perfect opportunity for people to explore other parts of the world, first it was South Africa, Now Brazil in 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2012.
Stuff the English and the US and their powerful media who always reports negative stuff about other parts of the world.
This suits them dearly. Thanks FIFA, keep it up!